Tipu Sultan Playground Controversy: Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha workers protest move to ‘rename’ sports complex after Tipu Sultan

Tipu Sultan Playground Controversy: The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Workers under the leadership of President Tajinder Singh Tiwana gathered outside the playground in Malwani Malad West to protest. Following the inauguration of a refurbished sports complex in Malwani funded by Mumbai Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh, a large number of BJP and Bajrang Dal workers held protests on Wednesday stating that they were opposing the move to “rename” the place after Mysore king Tipu Sultan.

Talking to media during the agitation against Tipu Sultan lover Aslam Shaikh in Malad West, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha President Tajinder Singh Tiwana Said, In Maharashtra, On the holy land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj the founder of Hindavi Swaraj, we will not allow the glorification of anti-Hindu like Tipu Sultan.

Mysore King Tipu Sultan is at the center of a controversy in Mumbai with the BJP claiming that Congress leader and Mumbai Suburban Minister Aslam Shaikh is planning to name a playground in the Muslim dominated Malwani locality after the 17th-century ruler.

What led to the BJP protest in Malwani?

The present controversy is over a playground located in the Muslim-dominated area of Malwani in the Western Suburb of Malad. The ground is popularly known as the Tipu Sultan Ground by locals, and in December last year, Shaikh, who represents the Malwani constituency, decided to refurbish and add facilities to the ground through the area development fund granted to MLAs. Work on the project was completed and Shaikh had decided to hold a function on Wednesday stating that the complex was ready for use. The BJP, however, stated the program was meant to rename the complex after Tipu Sultan and a large number of BJP and right-wing workers turned up in Malwani to oppose the alleged move.

“We will not allow the ground to be named after a man who is responsible for the deaths of a large number of Hindus,” Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said.

A large number of BJP, VHP, and Bajrang Dal workers had gathered outside the facility to protest. The large gathering was dispersed by the Mumbai Police and a number of protestors were detained.

Even members of Shiv Sena protested against the naming of the sports complex after the 18th-century rule of Mysuru. On Tuesday, Shiv Sena workers staged a protest outside the sports complex and expressed their displeasure over the naming of the park.